LOCAL BILL DEADLINE APPROACHES

March 2 (Wednesday of next week) is the Senate deadline for submission of local bill proposals to the Bill Drafting Office, with the deadline for introduction the following week. The House Rules provide for submission to Bill Drafting by March 22 and introduction by March 30.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS REFLECT SHARED POWER

House Committee assignments last week by Speaker Jim Black (Mecklenburg) reflect an effort to share power in committee leadership positions. House Committee chairs are listed below.

I. Finance and Appropriations

A. Finance – Co-chairs: Rep. Martha Alexander (Mecklenburg), Rep. Pryor Gibson (Montgomery), Rep. Julia Howard (Davie), Rep. Paul Luebke (Durham), Rep. Dan McComas (New Hanover), and Rep. William Wainwright (Craven)
B. Appropriations – Co-chairs: Rep. Debbie Clary (Cleveland), Rep. Jim Crawford (Granville), Rep. Beverly Earle (Mecklenburg) Rep. Edd Nye (Bladen), Rep. Bill Owens (Pasquotank), Rep. Wilma Sherrill (Buncombe)

1. Education Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Maggie Jeffus (Guilford), Rep. Joe Tolson (Edgecombe) and Rep. Doug Yongue (Scotland)
2. General Government Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Alma Adams (Guilford) and Rep. Roger West (Cherokee)
3. Health and Human Services Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Jeff Barnhart (Cabarrus) and Rep. Verla Insko (Orange)
4. Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Phil Haire (Jackson) and Rep. Joe Kiser (Lincoln)
5. Natural and Economic Resources Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Howard Hunter (Hertford) and Rep. Edith Warren (Pitt)
6. Transportation Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Nelson Cole (Rockingham) and Rep. Lorene Coates (Rowan)
C. Ways and Means – Chair: Rep. Larry Womble (Forsyth)

II. Judiciary Committees

A. Judiciary #1 – Chair: Rep. Joe Hackney (Orange)
B. Judiciary #2 – Chair: Rep. Mickey Michaux (Durham)
C. Judiciary #3 – Chair: Rep. Ronnie Sutton (Robeson)
D. Judiciary #4 – Chair: Rep. Jennifer Weiss (Wake)

III. Subject Matter Committees

A. Aging – Co-chairs: Rep. Alice Bordsen (Alamance), Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield (Wilson)
B. Agriculture – Chair: Rep. Dewey Hill (Columbus)
C. Alcoholic Beverage Control – Chair: Rep. John Hall (Halifax)
D. Children, Youth and Families – Chair: Rep. Mary McAllister (Cumberland)
E. Commerce – Co-chairs: Rep. Bill Daughtridge (Nash), Rep. Bruce Goforth (Buncombe), Rep. Stephen LaRoque (Lenoir) and Rep. Ray Rapp (Madison)
F. Education – Co-chairs: Rep. Larry Bell (Sampson), Rep. Marvin Lucas (Cumberland) and Rep. Marian McLawhorn (Pitt)

1. 1. Community College Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Bob England (Rutherford) and Rep. John Sauls (Lee)
2. 2. Education K-12 Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Rick Glazier (Cumberland) and Rep. Earline Parmon (Forsyth)
3. 3. Universities Subcommittee – Co-chairs: Rep. Margaret Dickson (Cumberland) and Rep. Karen Ray (Iredell)

G. Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform – Co-chairs: Rep. Tim Moore (Cleveland) and Rep. Deborah Ross (Wake)
H. Environment and Natural Resources – Co-chairs: Rep. Jim Harrell (Surry) and Rep. Carolyn Justice (Pender)
I. Ethics – Co-chairs: Rep. Susan Fisher (Buncombe) and Rep. Mitch Setzer (Catawba)
J. Federal Relations and Trade Issues – Co-chairs: Rep. Phillip Frye (Mitchell) and Rep. Mark Hilton (Catawba)
K. Financial Institutions – Co-chairs: Rep. Walter Church (Burke) and Rep. Robert Grady (Onslow)
L. Health – Chair: Rep. Tom Wright (New Hanover)
M. Insurance – Chair: Rep. Hugh Holliman (Davidson)
N. Local Government I – Chair: Rep. Russell Tucker (Duplin)
O. Local Government II – Co-chairs: Rep. Earl Jones (Guilford) and Rep. Tracy Walker (Wilkes)
P. Military, Veterans and Indian Affairs – Co-chairs: Rep. Louis Pate (Wayne) and Rep. Alice Underhill (Craven)
Q. Pensions and Retirement – Co-chairs: Rep. Larry Bell (Sampson) and Rep. Gene Wilson (Watauga)
R. Public Utilities – Co-chairs: Rep. Harold Brubaker (Randolph) and Rep. Drew Saunders (Mecklenburg)
S. Rules – Chair: Rep. Bill Culpepper (Chowan)
T. Science and Technology – Chair: Rep. Paul Miller (Durham)
U. State Government – Co-chairs: Rep. Linda Johnson (Cabarrus) Rep. Larry Womble (Forsyth)
V. Transportation – Co-chairs: Rep. Lucy Allen (Franklin), Rep. Cary Allred (Alamance) and Rep. Becky Carney (Mecklenburg)
W. Wildlife Resources – Co-chairs: Rep. Fred Steen (Rowan) and Rep. Arthur Williams (Beaufort)

BILLS OF INTEREST

GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Introductions

H238
“An act to restore public confidence in the election process by requiring that all voting systems permit all voters to verify their votes on paper; by providing statutory guidance as to counting; by providing checks on electronic voting system vendors, including multiparty review of source code, by authorizing the State Board of Elections to promote uniformity in voting systems by standardizing purchasing of voting systems in North Carolina, by empowering the State Board of Elections to control the testing and support of voting systems; by requiring post-election testing of voting systems, including a paper sample-count; by expanding the right to a hand-to-eye recount of paper ballots; by appropriating state funds for voting system acquisition to prevent imposing unfunded mandates upon counties; and by appropriating funds to the State Board of Elections to implement its expanded duties with regard to voting systems.” Rep. Verla Insko (Orange).

This bill represents the recommendations of a study committee that has been investigating changes in North Carolina’s voting system. It would specify that, effective in 2006, the following voting systems would be permitted: paper ballots, optical scan and direct record electronic (DRE) systems which generate a paper ballot. New requirements would be imposed on vendors of voting systems. For counties, the cost of implementing the bill’s requirements will have to be analyzed. The bill contains a blank appropriations provision and states that funds will be appropriated to reimburse counties for post-election verification or any other hand-eye counting or recounting. It was referred to the House Committee on Election Laws.

HUMAN RESOURCES
Introductions

H239
“To exempt from the law governing smoking restrictions local health departments and the buildings and grounds were they are located.” Rep. William Wainwright (Craven).

Current law exempts local health departments from legal limitation on local government authority to impose smoking restrictions. This bill would expand the exemption to include buildings and grounds where a local health department is located. It was referred to the House Health Committee.

H315
“To phase out the county share of the costs of the state-county special assistance program.” Rep. Debbie Clary (Cleveland).

If enacted, this bill would accomplish an Association Legislative Goal. It would phase out county participation in the State-County Special Assistance Program, beginning July 1, 2006. The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

H316
“To phase out the county share of the nonfederal share of Medical Assistance Program Costs.” Rep. Debbie Clary (Cleveland).

This bill would accomplish a major part of the Association’s top priority Legislative Goal. It would reduce the county share of the nonfederal share of Medicaid costs by 3 percent each year beginning July 1, 2006. The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

TAXATION AND FINANCE
Introductions

S145
“To amend the sales and use tax statutes to conform to the streamlined sales tax agreement.” Sen. John Kerr (Wayne).

This bill would amend provisions of the law dealing with sales tax. It would (1) remove alcoholic beverages from the definition of food, and (2) define the terms “school supplies” and “computer supplies.” It would amend provisions relative to the sales tax holiday to include computer supplies as long as the sales price does not exceed $250 per item. The bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

H286
“To increase the excise tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.” Rep. Jennifer Weiss (Wake).

This bill would, if enacted, accomplish an Association Legislative Goal. It would increase cigarette taxes from 5 cents to 80 cents per pack. The bill was referred to the House Finance Committee.

The governor’s budget was presented to the General Assembly this week. We will have an analysis of the budget next week.